Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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684. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to lift the embargo on recruitment of speech therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20358/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Following the downturn in the economy there was a requirement to reduce staff numbers and maximise savings in the public service. The HSE introduced an embargo on recruitment in 2007, and this was followed by the moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public sector in 2008. However, the HSE has had the capacity to recruit where it is necessary to deliver front-line services.

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced in Budget 2015 that he intends to delegate greater autonomy to Departments and Agencies to manage their own staffing levels. The change from the application of a rigid employment control framework, with its particular focus on a moratorium on recruitment and compliance with employment ceilings and targets, to one operating strictly within allocated pay frameworks will allow for recruitment where it is determined that this can achieve more economical service delivery.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) has advised that the HSE and Department of Health are required to submit a 2015 Pay and Numbers Strategy, outlining planned pay expenditure and staff numbers. Following approval of the strategy by DPER, a letter of delegated sanction will be issued. As this process is still ongoing, the existing moratorium and Employment Control Framework arrangements will continue to apply. However the number of staff employed has already increased by over 900 since January, the majority of whom are frontline staff, including speech therapists. This increase partly reflects the initiative being undertaken by the HSE to reduce reliance on agency and to offer contracts of employment where agency can be replaced by full time posts. This increase also reflects the continuing capacity of the HSE to recruit where it is necessary to deliver front line services.

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the aspect of the question that relates to speech therapists. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.